Calaveras' sole hospital plans layoffs after first of year

SAN ANDREAS - Mark Twain St. Joseph's Hospital is laying off some of its employees, effective Jan. 7.

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By Dana M. Nichols

recordnet.com

By Dana M. Nichols

Posted Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By Dana M. Nichols

Posted Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

SAN ANDREAS - Mark Twain St. Joseph's Hospital is laying off some of its employees, effective Jan. 7.

Hospital spokeswoman Nicki Stevens said Monday that she does not have an exact count of the number of layoffs but that it is "less than 20 percent" of the staff at the hospital and its five clinics.

Mark Twain St. Joseph's is the only hospital in Calaveras County. The hospital and its clinics employ about 300 people, including a medical staff of about 85.

Stevens said the hospital has been hit by both cuts in government health insurance in recent years and an increase in uninsured patients.

"We have certainly been impacted by the long recession," Stevens said.

Stevens said the 25-bed hospital would continue to operate all of its services and clinics and that the addition of another community clinic would proceed as planned.

"We are growing," Stevens said.

Mark Twain St. Joseph's is part of the Dignity Health system that operates 40 hospitals, including six hospitals in north central California. Saint Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton is part of Dignity Health.

Stevens said the layoff notices are happening now and that hospital officials will seek where possible to place laid-off employees in jobs elsewhere in the Dignity Health system. Those who can't find a transfer within Dignity Health will be offered severance packages.

Stevens said she is not among those being laid off, and that those affected include some medical staff, such as nurses.